Cast off the lines and discover 50 of the most fabulous off-the-beaten-track sailing destinations on our planet.
If you own a sailing boat, chances are that you've wondered what it would be like to throw in your job, cast off and sail over the horizon.
Here are 50 out-of-the way destinations to encourage you to sell up and go (or enjoy a temporary escape) with practical tips including formalities, the prevailing weather and GPS positions. The selection of locations is based on over 70,000 miles of sailing. Some (St Helena, Cocos Keeling) are classic yet remote destinations that have been favoured by circumnavigators ever since the days of Joshua Slocum. Others (in Japan, Patagonia or the Pacific Northwest) have been chosen as perfect examples of the attractions of those regions. Common denominators are protection from the weather, scenic beauty and historic and/or human interest. And the fact that, while solitude is not guaranteed, you won't be troubled by the arrival of a cruising flotilla or by a novice dragging anchor onto you.
Each anchorage is introduced with a lively account describing the place, its history and people (if any) as well as the author and his crew's adventures. Each account is followed by a beautifully hand-drawn sketch of the anchorage and an information box.

Nicholas Coghlan and his wife, Jenny, sailed around the world on their first boat, Tarka the Otter between 1985 and 1989. On his return he joined the Canadian Foreign Service and has written books about two of his postings: The Saddest Country: On Assignment in Colombia and Far in the Waste Sudan: On Assignment in Africa. Following their adventure, Coghlan accepted a two-year posting as Deputy High Commissioner in Pakistan. Now, he and his wife are living aboard Bosun Bird somewhere in the Pacific Ocean.

Nicholas Coghlan's profile page